Sr. Edward Hawke, Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, and Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron of His Majesties Fleet.

G. Knapton Pinx.t J. McArdell Fecit. [n.d c.1740.] Mezzotint with very large margins, first state. Plate 330 x 229mm. 13 x 9". Portrait, bust in an oval, directed to right, wearing a plain coat with sash hung diagonally from right shoulder, a badge half visible on left side, white cravat and shoulder-length wig, arms at his sides, looking towards the viewer. Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, KB (1705-1781) was a naval officer of the Royal Navy. He is best remembered for his victory over a French fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, preventing a French invasion of Britain. A number of Royal Navy warships were named after him, in commemoration of this. He also served as First Lord of the Admiralty for five years between 1766 and 1771. In the Seven Years' War, Hawke replaced Admiral John Byng as commander in the Mediterranean in 1756. He blockaded Rochefort in 1757 and in 1758 he directed the blockade of Brest for six months. In 1759 Hawke was tasked with stopping a planned French invasion fleet from reaching Britain. His ships continued their close blockade of Brest. When Hawke's force was driven off station by a storm, the French fleet under Hubert de Brienne, Comte de Conflans, took advantage and left port. On 20 November 1759 he followed the French warships and during a gale he won a sufficient victory in the Battle of Quiberon Bay, when combined with Edward Boscawen's victory at Lagos, to remove the French invasion threat. He then retired from active duty, and given the honorary rank of Vice-Admiral of Great Britain in November 1765. He was made First Lord of the Admiralty in December 1766 and served until January 1771. He was made a baron in 1776.CS: 103. Goodwin: 188.
[Ref: 28105] £260.00